Community Police Facility FAQs

​​​​​What is the design process?

  • Where do we start?

    • Collect and Review Existing Information - Review 2014 Space Needs Report - COMPLETED
    • Interview Police Department Staff and Administration - COMPLETED
      • Get input on current facility; what is and is not working - COMPLETED
      • Future facility needs

  • How much space do we need?

    • Prepare draft space program - COMPLETED
    • Prepare individual room data sheets - COMPLETED
    • Prepare summary space needs report - COMPLETED
      • Confirm needs with Police and City representatives - COMPLETED
      • Incorporate updates - COMPLETED

  • Community information and engagement

  • Where will it be?

    • Using the Site Selection Matrix (see below)
      • Evaluate current site for potential renovation and/or expansion - COMPLETED
      • Evaluate other City-owned properties - COMPLETED

  • Narrowing down the locations

    • Create "shortlist" of potential sites for further evaluation
      • Tour potential sites with Police and City representatives

  • Will the approved space fit the program?

    • "Test fit" massing Community Policing Facility (CPF) space program on potential sites - COMPLETED

  • What does the community think?

    • Public input meeting - September 21, 2023
    • Joint City Council & Police Commission Work Session - November 13, 2023

  • Bring the building and the site together

    • Final Site selection
    • Develop CPF conceptual site plan, building stacking, and massing diagrams

  • How much will it cost?

    • Preliminary estimates of probably construction cost
    • Community presentations - Dates TBD

How are sites selected? What are the criteria? 

The consultants work with City staff to assess the merits and suitability of any potential sites using the following ten criteria. Each criterion is given a numerical rank and weighted giving each site a clear ranked order based on the needs of the project and the location of the site. The same criteria are used to assess the current facility. 

  1. Appropriate Surrounding Land Use: An evaluation is conducted of the land use adjacent to a proposed site and an assessment of its compatibility with the intended function of a Law Enforcement / Public Safety Facility. Factors such as adjacent office utilization, as an example, would be considered favorable, while single-family detached usage would be less favorable due to the potential of adverse impact upon the Residential Community.  

  1. Proximity to other City Facilities / Functions: Is the proposed site in proximity to existing City Facilities to the extent that access is enhanced, and that the interrelationship of Municipal functions is considered?  

  1. Site Size / Ease of Expansion: Is the proposed site of sufficient size to accommodate, economically, both current and future spatial needs without utilizing costly construction techniques or systems?  

  1. Zoning: Is the site currently appropriately zoned for the proposed use, or if not, is the desired zoning appropriate in the context of adjacent properties?  

  1. Site Development Considerations: Does the site have any characteristics that require special attention such as existing structures that need to be demolished and disposed of; are there any environmental issues that will need to be remediated, or other potential issues that may result in higher-than-average development costs?  

  1. Access: Vehicular/Pedestrian/Public Transportation: Does Public Transportation currently serve the site or provide access within a reasonable radius? Is the property located on arterial roadways, which have a service level appropriate to the proposed facility needs? 

  1. Impact on Downtown Redevelopment: Does the site, because of its proximity to the Downtown core, have the potential of serving as a positive force on redevelopment?  

  1. Proximity to Potential Hazards: Are there factors or physical elements that are located in proximity to the site that can potentially affect the site, including roadways, and/or railroads, which are utilized to transport hazardous materials? Is the site located adjacent to or within the impact zone of a facility; which stores space or utilizes materials that could result in a hazardous event? 

  1. Ease of Acquisition: Does the Municipality already own the property, or can the property be obtained by purchase or trade from a willing landowner(s) or will it potentially result in delay of acquisition as the result of a "non-motivated" seller? 

  1. Adequacy of Infrastructure: Is the site currently served by utility systems, such as water, sewer, power, gas and storm water drainage systems, which have sufficient capacity to accommodate anticipated need? 

Q: Three proposed sites would eliminate a ball field; would this be replaced? If so, where? 

A: The City is exploring options for relocating a ball field should one of these sites be selected. 

Q: If the PD moves, what will happen to the existing space? 

A: Due to the constraints of some of the proposed sites, or budgetary concerns, the Police Department may have an ongoing presence in the building. City administration will look to optimize operations by utilizing the available space for essential functions. 

Q: Why not build satellite PD offices or substations?

What we are seeing on a national level is the consolidation of services because it’s a much more efficient delivery than when we must develop, outfit, and maintain multiple sites. Substations are ideal for large geographic or rural areas. We don’t want to split up property, evidence, or communications. Pulling people together is a much more efficient delivery of workflow operationally. 

Unlike Fire, Police are not at the headquarters facility, but rather, they are already on shift in the field and the cruisers are satellite offices.  

 

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